It was March 21, 2012 when I first met Ash. He had arrived the day before and was getting his bearings. It was a big change from life on the mountain. At the shelter he was being kennelled with Comet, a pretty relaxed sleddie who was very generous with his affection. 
Ash had these deep golden eyes that drew you in. His coat was a beautiful brown, almost brindley and he had those long sleddie legs. He was one to put his paw on you for treats, attention or maybe just comfort when he was unsure. 

It would be about a year and a half before I saw him again, September 2013, at our first reunion. He'd been adopted by an amazing human who was working to help ease his anxieties, someone who didn't return him when he tore apart the inside of her car when he was left in there for a short time. 
She loved him.

As a Whistler sled dog cull survivor, Ash's second chapter as a beloved family member was pretty awesome. He came to reunions and hung out with some of his old buddies and in 2017 he participated in I Was A Sled Dog and showed off his posing skills as well as his extra cute "paw + cute look = treats from human" look. 

The last few years he shared his life with a tri-pawed brother and Ash got to show him the ropes. He was a very good big brother.

I'm so grateful that Jen and Ash found each other. 

Rest in peace and love sweet Ashy.
xo

At our last sleddie reunion back on April 26, 2016, we saddled up a few dogs with the GoPro dog harness,  mounted the camera and let them go! 
I'm not sure Question, Cane or Ash even realized it was on their backs. 

To those who know the dogs in this video, they will see some friends they haven't seen in a while and some who've passed on - including dear Question - who showed us her view this day.

But aside from just being a light-hearted video, it also shows a reunion in which more than 50(!) former sled dogs got to choose.
Choose who they sniff. Choose what they sniff. Choose where they go. Choose their own route to the other side of the lawn. When to run with friends and when to lay down to chill. They had the chance to use their noses to smell their way around - where to go, where not to go.

The modern sled dog industry doesn't account for their dogs having choices. They have very little, if any choice in how they spend their days.
It's all routine.
Routine wake up. Routine meals. Routine pacing on the chain. Routine work.
Routine is efficient. Routine and systems keep the operation going. Time is money.

I understand dogs like routine. They're dependent on us so a routine can help them feel safe, get on a potty break schedule and when food is coming.
But when that routine is all encompassing and not just the Five Freedoms, but also the updated version of Five Domains Model of Animal Welfare, are not being met, that's a huge problem. 
The research is there. The science is there. 
​The industry is antiquated and it's had its run.
 
The full blog post and photos from this reunion can be found here: www.wendynesbitt.com/blog/not-so-secret-society-of-sleddies

Thanks for checking in!
xo

Pique passed away last yesterday, Friday, September 13.
As a survivor of the Whistler sled dog cull, this gal landed in the lap of luxury at her adopted home and lived to almost 15 years old. I was lucky enough to go on many adventures with her and her family over the years - she was always a sweetheart.
Within the circle of retired sleddies I know, she is predeceased by her biological sister Question and adopted brother Sonny. She leaves behind her foster brother Coyote, her adopted brother Shrekkie and a whole bunch of family and friends who loved her to the ends of the earth.

Not one to turn down a treat, Pique would look at you with her eyes as blue as the sky and  you would submit to her wishes. 
​
Rest in peace and love Pique. xo